Jongen en meisje bij een waterput 1833 - 1892

This is Johannes Christiaan d' Arnaud Gerkens' 'Boy and Girl at a Well', an etching made in the mid-19th century. During the 1800s, social roles were clearly defined by gender and class. This image of rural life seems innocent enough, yet it subtly echoes those structures. The girl, possibly a farmhand, appears dutifully at work. Whereas the boy stands idle, reaching out towards the well. The well itself would have been a communal space. In what way did the artist want to convey the significance of this place? Notice the way the artist frames the young woman. She’s positioned in the foreground, but almost shrinking away. The boy is stepping out into the scene, claiming his space. Gerkens captures a fleeting moment of connection, but also hints at the social dynamics at play during this era. It’s a quiet, contemplative scene, but it speaks volumes about the silent expectations of the time.